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Country Focus

In the wake of a decade-long civil war that claimed more than 13,000 lives, Nepal’s uneasy peace has been plagued by uncertainties, tied to the volatile political environment, the gridlocks over the drafting of the new constitution, and the reported proliferation of criminal activities. This rapid succession of changes has raised new questions about the overall security situation in the country.

In response to this call for information, the Small Arms Survey has released a new report, In Search of Lasting Security: An Assessment of Armed Violence in Nepal.

This study, conducted together with its Kathmandu-based partner, Interdisciplinary Analysts, presents original research based on a national household survey covering more than 3,000 respondents as well as focus group discussions and key informant interviews in Nepal’s Hill and Terai regions, as well as data collected from official, non-governmental, and international sources.

Since the end of the conflict Nepal has seen fluctuation in the incidence and severity of violence, with relative calm punctuated by bouts of violence in response to political events. While data shows several improvements in the security landscape, Nepal continues to be plagued by high volatility and uncertainty related to political and ethnic crises.

The Special Report finds that:

Despite persistent volatility, a majority of survey respondents were confident that security situation had recently improved in their area.

Property crime was identified as the most common concern, across surveyed areas. Those with a steady source of income, or those carrying money or valuables were more likely to fall victims.

Armed violence in Nepal is generally low-tech, using crude or makeshift weapons, such as bicycle chains or sticks, as well as traditional bladed weapons, improvised explosive devices, and home-made firearms.

Based on self-reported and perceived ownership, between 41,000 and 84,000 households in the surveyed districts are estimated to own firearms.

Overall police performance, accountability, and responsiveness were rated fairly high, with more than 80 per cent of respondents stating that they would seek help from the police in the event of an attack. However, many interviewees expressed concerns about police efficiency, citing lack of training, political interference, and a lack of standardized service as key issues.

The Missing Middle: Examining the Armed Group Phenomenon in Nepal

This Issue Brief reports on the history of the country’s armed groups, their initial proliferation, their development and overlap with other societal groups, the reasons behind their recent decline, and their relationship to the state. It finds that, despite continuing political instability, the overall number of armed groups has decreased in recent years.

Legacies of War in the Company of Peace: Firearms in Nepal

The second NAVA Issue Brief explores the scale and distribution of firearm ownership in post-conflict Nepal. It estimates that there are 440,000 privately owned firearms, with roughly one-eighth (55,000) believed to be legally registered. Most are unregistered craft weapons, referred to as country-made or katuwas, of which there are an estimated 330,000. The Nepal Army has about 160,000 small arms, and law enforcement agencies have roughly another 74,000.

About the Nepal Armed Violence Assessment

Based in Kathmandu and Geneva, the Nepal Armed Violence Assessment (NAVA) provides a clearinghouse for existing and new original research on the dynamics of armed violence and effective approaches to prevention and reduction.